Scholarship opens doors for African women in STEM
A new call for applications gives women researchers from the Republic of Congo and other emerging economies a clear route to world-class laboratories. The Schlumberger Foundation has launched the 2026-2027 round of its Faculty for the Future program, dedicated to doctoral and postdoctoral studies abroad.
Since 2004, the scheme has financed tuition, living costs and essential research travel, turning promising scientists into lecturers, mentors and policy advisers. The next intake aims to deepen that footprint by targeting fields vital to Africa’s growth, from renewable energy to data science.
Two decades of measurable impact
Over twenty years, Faculty for the Future has awarded more than 950 fellowships, helping scholars join universities such as Oxford, MIT and Cape Town. Alumni now teach, patent and influence policy back home, multiplying the effect of each grant.
Program manager Adria Anselmo notes that every dollar spent “returns to the scientist’s country through skills transfer and curriculum reform”, a point echoed by regional university deans who value the soft power such fellowships create.
Key dates and eligibility for 2026-2027
Online applications opened this week and will close on 7 November 2025. Candidates must be female citizens of a developing or emerging economy, hold a master’s degree in a STEM field and present a confirmed placement at a host institution outside their home country.
Selection panels review academic excellence, leadership potential and a clear plan to return and contribute locally. Grants are renewable annually until the research is complete, provided progress reports remain satisfactory.
Voices from Gabon, Namibia and beyond
Dominique Durastanti Mombo, the first Gabonese awardee, credits the fellowship with “financial stability, confidence and leadership training” that pushed her to publish in high-impact journals and guide younger students.
Namibian information-systems researcher Katazo Amunkete says the funding “financed crucial field interviews at home and abroad”, enabling her to link global theories with community realities. She calls the network “a lifelong think tank” that will keep Namibia on the tech innovation map.
Tackling urgent health challenges
Mozambican microbiologist Aureliana Filomena Chambal Chilengue is using her grant at Nottingham Trent University to study drug-resistant tuberculosis. “I want to cut mortality and sharpen national control strategies,” she explains, adding that mentoring girls in local schools is part of her research plan.
Health ministries across Central Africa view such projects as strategic, because trained female scientists often choose public-sector careers, bolstering labs that track epidemics and improve vaccine rollout.
How Congolese applicants can stand out
Prospective candidates from Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire are advised to secure early academic admission letters, polish research proposals around national priorities like hydropower or digital agriculture, and gather reference letters highlighting teaching experience.
Former fellow Dr. Mireille Nkouka suggests recording a brief video pitch: “Panels remember a clear, confident voice explaining why the project matters to Congo’s youth.” She also recommends demonstrating ties to local universities to emphasize the return-home commitment.
Building a pan-African sisterhood in science
Beyond funding, the program assembles a powerful alumni network. Annual forums pair senior and junior fellows for mentorship, while online platforms share lab protocols, grant tips and job openings.
Program organisers insist that community spirit is central. “We do not just fund individuals; we seed ecosystems,” says foundation chairperson Roseline Champetier. The 2026 cohort will join activists, entrepreneurs and professors already working to balance gender representation in classrooms and boardrooms.
Women accepted this cycle will carry the flame further, inspiring girls who wonder whether a microscope or a motherboard could fit into their future. With applications now live, the countdown starts for those ready to seize the chance and reshape science across Africa.
